OA – The Best Way

I have been in OA for three and a half years after more than 50 years of compulsive eating. During my first few meetings, I felt intense fear, hopelessness, desperation, and eagerness to learn. New expressions overwhelmed me, such as abstinence, sponsor, food plan, and “feel the feelings.” This experience was foreign to me.

I persisted. By my fourth meeting, I had found a sponsor; written my food plan; and begun journaling, reading OA literature, and attending two meetings a week. Oh, did I look forward to those meetings! I didn’t stop to think why I was doing the work; it was what I had to do in the OA program.

Admitting my powerlessness over food was easy—hadn’t I proved it to myself countless times? Believing in a power greater than myself was also easy. There had to be one; I sure was not doing things on my own. Higher Power was my only hope. I chose to believe and “act as if.”

Many times I wanted to eat whatever and whenever I wanted—behavior that had never worked for me. Instead I chose the new, hard way; at least it seemed hard in the beginning. I can remember being scared and uncomfortable, but I chose to believe it would be okay and worth a try. Now I know it was the OA way, the best way, the way my Higher Power wanted me to go.

I called my sponsor regularly and did whatever she suggested. She shared her experience with me and directed me to seek guidance from my Higher Power. I wrote down a food plan I could live with for the rest of my life one day at a time, and I read my OA literature. Finally hope came, and I began to look forward with excitement to living each day and discovering a life without excess food.

It took me one and a half years to go through the Steps. During that time I shed 50 pounds (23 kg) and have kept it off for the first time in my life. I continue to work the Steps because the OA way of life is now my normal lifestyle.

I still have challenges. Food thoughts can threaten to overtake me, and I must make amends at times. But I am making progress and have learned that even when I have the thoughts, I do not have to take the actions.

I remind myself daily that I am powerless over food but I have found the answer: turning my life and will over to the care of my Higher Power, who is always available.

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Workshop: Defining Your Abstinence

Join us on October 28th for an afternoon focused on the OA definition of “abstinence” and working out (or refining) what it means in your recovery day to day. There will be directed readings, writing prompts, collage making, and sharing. Check out our events page for all the details.

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Join us on November 18th for an International Day Experiencing Abstinence (IDEA) Workshop on the Difference Between Abstinence and a Plan of Eating. Check out our events page for all the details.

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